Railroad-car-door seal



March 11 1924!7 1,486,687

J. A. ROELL RAILROAD CAR DOOR SEAL Filed Feb. 12 1923 Patented Mar. l1, 192% life-fatina hadde? JOHN A. ROELL, 0F WEST JACKSON, lfISSISSIPPI.

RAILRO-AD-CAR--DQOR SEAL.

Application nieu February 12, w23.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN A. RonLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Jackson, in the county of Hinds and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad- Car-Door Seals, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in seals particularly well adapted for the effective sealing of railroad car doors and the like.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a car seal which is relatively simple in construction, and which may be quickly and conveniently placed in sealing position upon a car, as to prevent any unauthorized opening of the car, without mutilation or destruction of the seal.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a fool proof car door seal, embodying a securing arrangement which will effectively maintain a car door or other device in closed sealed manner, until the seal is broken; the improved seal embodying means to determine the individual by whom, or location at which the sealing operation was effected.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a car seal which may be stamped of sheet material, such as tin, and embodying an arrangement of parts which may be conveniently brought into sealing relation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of improved car seal.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view, taken through the improved car seal, showing the same in sealed relation.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line le-l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a barb Serial No. 818,653.

or locking tongue embodied in this invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the sealing end of the improved car seal.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view, taken through a modified form of improved car seal which includes certain novel features also embodied in the preferred form of car seal.

Figure 8 is a developed plan view of the main part of the modified car seal.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a seamless guard sleeve, used as a part of the modified car seal.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of this invention, the letter A generally designates the improved or preferred form of car seal, while the letter B designates the improved modified form of seal.

Referring to the preferred type of car seal, the saine is preferably constructed of good grade sheet material, such as tin, and is preferably of one piece construction. t comprises a body, base, or main portion 15, from one end of which the elongated strap or shackle portion 16 extends; said strap or shackle portion 16 being preferably df a uniform width, and Having a substantially polygonal shaped opening 17 at the free end thereof. @n the opposite marginal edge or end of the main or base portion 15, the flap portion 18 is provided, which is substantially of the same width as the shackle or strap portion 16, andupon which fiap portion 18, the novel locking barb 2O is provided. At the opposite end of the flap portion 18, the guard iiap or tongue 21 is provided, Which is of substantially the same width and length as the flap portion 18, and adapted for cooperative protective use upon the improved seal, as will be subsequently described. Guard wings 22 and 23 are provided at the sides of the main body 15 of the improved seal A, extending longitudinally thereof, and which in width are substantially equal to the width of the base portion 15, and in fact, may be of greater width.

The locking clip or barb 2O is of novel construction and is struck from the material of the flap portion 18, so that the free end thereof is tapered or rounded and extends toward the connection of the flap portion 18 with the main body or base portion 15. rlhe material at the bight or connecting portion of the barb 20, at each side thereof, is removed, as indicated by numeral 25, and the material at the apex of the locking tongue or barb 20 is also removed, as indicated by numeral 26, whereby movement of the locking clip or barb will be unobstructed as to permit the free interlocking of the shackle end with the barb, as will be subsequently described. Intermediate its ends, the barb 20 has thepmaterial thereof outstruck, to provide a retaining lug 28, extending substantially outwardly at right angles to the plane defined by said barb, and which cooperates with the shackle or strap 16 in effecting a sealing operation.

, Referring to the assembling operation of the improved car seal A, the flap port-ion 18 is bent upon the body or base plate 15, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, and it is to be noted that the barb 2() is bent downwardly slightly from the plane of its flap 18 as to enter a pocket 30 provided by a depressed portion Slin the main portion 15. The guard wings 22 and 23 are next overlapped with respect to each other upon the flap portion 18, and the guard tongue 21 is next doubled rearwardly and exteriorly of the uppermost guard wing 23, so that the free end of the attaching tongue 21 is disposed adjacent the juncture of the attaching iap with the body 15. It is preferred that the base 15, flap 18, guard wings 22 and 23, and the guard tongue 21 are all transversely welded or riveted adjacent the end of the improved car seal A, so that said parts of the car seal provide an attaching or locking head to seal the free end portion of the shackle 16 therein. It will be noted that certain apertures 35 are provided in the por* I lation in the assembled position of the carseal, and adapted to receive a rivet element 36, upon the heads of which rivet a monogramr37 or other indicia may be provided,

representative of the pei'son having charge of car sealing operations or of the particular locality from which theV sealed cars are shipped. In lieu of the rivet 36, the portions above mentioned may be electrically welded toprovide a permanent seal at this point. lVhen thus sealed, passageway 89 is provided, intermediate the flap portion 18 and the bottom portion of the seal A, within which the free end of the car shackle 16 is to be slipped. As the free end of the strap or shackle 16 is thus inserted for substantially the maximum distance in the passageway 39, the same will lift the locking barb out of the pocket 30, and after the aperture 17 has passed the free end of the locking barb 20, the latter will snap through the opening 17, and upon drawing the strap or shackle away from the barb 20, the Vsame will more firmly engage the barb 20, and the retaining lug 28 will be sprung upwardly to engage the free edge 40 of the strap 16, to retain the strap in locked relation with the barb 20, lagainst liability of displacement except by mutilation of the seal.

F rom this construction of the preferred type of car seal, it will be noted that the at* taching or locking head of the'same comprises all of the seal except the shackle or strap portion 16, andis protected at all sides, so as to prevent any prying operations, except through mutilation of parts. rIhe attaching or locking head at the entrance of the passageway 39 is doubly protected by the overlapping guard tongue 21, so that it will be impossible to pick the car seal without mutilation.

Referring' to the modified form Vof car seal, the same includes a relatively straight piece of sheet material, such as tin, embodying the base or plate'portion 50, which provides the depressed pocket 51 therein, analogous to the pocket 80 above provided for the pre ferred form of car seal. The strap or shackle 52 is preferably less in width than the portion 50, and extends outwardly from the main portion 50, having an opening 53 at the free` end thereof. An intermediate flap portion 54 is provided at theV opposite end of the main portion 50, which has a barb or locking tongue 55 struck therein, of preferably the saine construction as the locking tongue or .barb 20 above described, and which provides a retaining lug'56 outstanding from the plane thereof. The guard or attaching tongue portion 58 extends outwardly from the end of t-he flap portion 54 opposite the attachment of the latter to the main plate or base portion'50. The portions 50, 54 and 58 are preferably of the same length and width and adapted for cooperative overlapping, as will be subsequently described. l

The assembling of the. modified car seal B contemplates'rst, the folding of the flap portion 5/1 upon the base plate portion 50, so that the barb 55 is swung into the pocket 51. A seamless guard sleeve 60 is provided, open at the ends thereof, and relatively fiat, which is adapted for slipping over the overlapped portions 50 and 54, to receive said portions in the pocket or passageway 61 of said seamless sleeve 60,V substantially as is illustrated Y inV Figure 7 of the drawing. The guard tongueV 58 is then bent exteriorly iupona side of the seamless sleeve 60, and theouter ends of the base 50, flap portion 54:, guard sleeve 60, and guard tongue 58 are then permanently sealed, as by a rivet 65 or electric weld. This rivet 65, or electric weld used in lieu thereof, are of course placedv remote nassen? from the locking barb or tongue 55, as to permit the free end of the shackle or strap 52 to be inserted in the passageway 6T provided at the end of the improved seal device, opposite the liveted or welded end. The free end of the strap, when inserted in the passageway 67, is locked therein, as by springing of the barb 55 and its lug 56 through the opening 53, and interlocking substantially as above described for the preferred embodiment of this invention, and as is clearly illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing.

Various changes in the shape, size, substitution of equivalents and variations in the forni of the improved car seal may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. A car seal comprising an attaching head having a passageway therein open from an end thereof, said attaching head providing a looking barb extending transversely across said passageway and having a retaining lug extending laterally of the plane of said barb, and a flexible shackle portion connected at one end to said attaching head and having the free end thereof provided with an opening which when the free end is inserted into the passageway of said attachinghead will receive said barb therethrough whereby the lug of said barb will be snapped into position to prevent detachment of the free end of the shackle from said barb.

2. A car seal comprising a base portion, a shackle portion extending outwardly from one end of the base portion, a flap portion extending from the opposite end of the base portion adapted for folding upon said base portion whereby the free end of the shackle portion may interlock with said flap portion when so folded, guard means to hold said tlap portion in locking relation with the shackle portion, and a guard tongue extending outwardly from said flap portion adapted for exterior attachment upon said guard means.

3. As an article of manufacture, a car seal strip comprising a base portion, a relatively long ilexible strap portion extending outwardly from the free end of the base portion, a flap portion extending outwardly from the base portion directly opposite said strap portion, interlocking means on said strap and flap portions, and an attaching tongue extendine outwardly from said iiap portion opposite to the connection of the latter with the base portion.

Li. As an article oi" manufacture, a strip of sheet metal stamped to provide a base portion, a relatively long shackle portion extending outwardly from an end of said base portion having an opening at the free end thereof, a iiap portion extending outwardly from the opposite end of said base portion having a locking barb struck therefrom, the free end of which locking barb extends toward the juncture of said iiap portion with said base portion, so that the same may be received in the opening of said shackle portion, guard iianges extending longitudinally at the sides of said base ortion, and a guard tongue member exten ing outwardly from the iiap portion at the end of the said flap portion opposite to its connection with the base portion.

` 5. A car seal comprising a metal base portion, a fiexible strap portion extending outwardly from an end of said base portion having an opening adjacent the free end thereof, a flap portion extending outwardly from the opposite end of said base portion having a locking barb Vstruck therefrom, the free end of which barb extends toward the juncture of said iiap portion with the base portion, said flap portion adapted for folding in substantially abutting relation with the base portion, said base portion providing a depressed socket into which said locking barb is normally prung, guard means sealing the longitudinal sides of the base and flap portions, permanent sealing means connecting said guard means and said base and flap portions at the end of the car seal opposite said strap portion, said strap portion adapted to have the free end thereof inserted intermediate the flap and base portions, whereby the barb of said flap portion may engage through the opening of said strap portion to prevent detachment of the latter.

6. A car seal comprising a base portion having a depression providing pocket therein, a relatively long flexible strap section extending outwardly from one end of the base portion having an opening adjacent the free end thereof, a flap portion extending outwardly from the opposite end of the base portion and providing a locking barb, the free end of which extends toward the juncture of the flap portion with the base portion, said flap portion adapted for folding in overlapped relation upon the base portion wherebythe locking barb is normally sprung into the pocket of the depression provided in the base portion, side guard wings provided laterally on the base portion adaptec for relative overlapping upon the ila-n portion, whereby a passageway is provided intermediate the flap portion and the base portion the entrance to which is at `the point of juncture of the strap portion with the base portion, a guard tongue at the end of said nap portion opposite to the connection of the latter with the hase portion adapted for overlapping exterior-ly upon the side guard wings, and means permanently sealing the free end of the guard tongue and said guard wings to said lili! lili) Hap and base portion adjacent the juncture of the lap and base portions, said locking barb providing a retaininzg lug extending i laterally thereof, whereby when the free end 5 of the strap is inserted into the car Seal inl Y terinediate the flap portion and the base portion the lockingbarb may swing into the opening at the free end of said strap and said locking lug of the barb engage the free edge' of the strap to prevent disconnection 10 of the strap from the locking barb except by mutilation of the car Seal.

JOHN YA. Y RoELL. 

